Systems and methods of automating reconsideration of cardiac risk

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media to automate reconsideration of a cardiac risk category associated with issuance of a life insurance policy may provide an indication of a best potential risk category or rate class that would be available if at least one action is completed by a life insurance applicant.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35U.S.C. §120 for U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/829,777, filed Jul.27, 2007, entitled “Systems and Methods of Automating Reconsideration ofCardiac Risk”, which in turn claims the benefit of:

U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/915,667, filed May 2, 2007, and isalso a continuation-in-part of the following U.S. patent applications:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/320,540, filed Dec. 28, 2005,entitled “Medical Diagnosis Interpretation Calculator”;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/320,172, filed Dec. 28, 2005,entitled “Medical Diagnosis Interpretation Calculator”; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/320,553, filed Dec. 28, 2005,entitled “Medical Diagnosis Interpretation Calculator”.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND PERMISSION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. The following notice shall apply to this document:Copyright © 2007, USAA.

BACKGROUND

Currently, electrocardiograms that are considered abnormal andassociated with higher mortality are assigned a less than favorable riskclassification. Life insurance (Life) underwriters and sales caseanalysts often are asked by applicants what additional information ortests could be provided to obtain an improved rating. Due to the highlytechnical aspect of these tests and associated mortality assumptions,these questions are often referred to the life insurance company'smedical director (Medical Director). The term “Medical Director” as usedherein means a physician or other person having relatively more medicalexpertise than an underwriter or sales case analyst. The MedicalDirector must then review the application file and advise theunderwriter or sales case analyst on what additional information wouldimprove the risk assessment of the abnormal electrocardiogram. This maydelay processing time by several days and may increase demand on theMedical Director's time. If the medical director is not consulted onsuch applications and or the member applicant not properly advised, thismay result in a customer paying either excessive rates or decliningcoverage, or in the company providing insurance to applicants withunreasonably high mortality risk, causing unnecessary financial loss.

Thus, systems and methods are needed that address the shortcomings ofthe prior art.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

In consideration of the above-identified shortcomings of the art,systems and methods for an interactive, self-service resource toreassess cardiac risk are provided. Various embodiments, includingsystems, methods, and computer-readable media, to automatereconsideration of a cardiac risk category associated with issuance of alife insurance policy may provide an indication of a best potential riskcategory or rate class that would be available if at least one action iscompleted by a life insurance applicant.

Below is a description of other advantages and features of the inventivesubject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A life insurance underwriting risk calculator is further described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing an exemplary computing devicesuitable for use in conjunction with providing a life insuranceunderwriting risk calculator;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary networked computing environment in whichmany computerized processes may be implemented to provide a lifeinsurance underwriting risk calculator;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electrocardiographic interpretationcalculator according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a medical diagnosis interpretationcalculator according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system according to various embodiments;

FIGS. 6-8 are flow diagrams illustrating several methods according tovarious embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an graphical user interface of anexample system comprising a life insurance underwriting risk calculator;

FIGS. 10A and 10B together constitute a graphical user interface of anexample electrocardiogram (ECG) reconsideration risk calculator portionof an example system comprising a life insurance underwriting riskcalculator;

FIGS. 11A-11F together constitute an example table calculator as part ofan embodiment of an electrocardiogram (ECG) reconsideration riskcalculator 401;

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a process of an example lifeinsurance underwriting risk calculator; and

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an article according to variousembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain specific details are set forth in the following description andfigures to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments ofthe inventive subject matter. Certain well-known details oftenassociated with computing and software technology are not set forth inthe following disclosure to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the variousembodiments of the inventive subject matter. Further, those of ordinaryskill in the relevant art will understand that they can practice otherembodiments of the inventive subject matter without one or more of thedetails described below. Finally, while various methods are describedwith reference to operations and sequences in the following disclosure,the description as such is for providing a clear implementation ofembodiments of the inventive subject matter, and the operations andsequences of operations should not be taken as required to practice thisinventive subject matter.

Example Computing Devices

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a block diagram representing an exemplarycomputing device suitable for use in conjunction with implementing theprocesses described above. For example, the computer-executableinstructions that carry out the processes and methods for a lifeinsurance underwriting risk calculator may reside and/or be executed insuch a computing environment as shown in FIG. 1. The computing systemenvironment 220 is only one example of a suitable computing environmentand is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use orfunctionality of the inventive subject matter. Neither should thecomputing environment 220 be interpreted as having any dependency orrequirement relating to any one or combination of components illustratedin the exemplary operating environment 220.

Aspects of the inventive subject matter are operational with numerousother general purpose or special purpose computing system environmentsor configurations. Examples of well known computing systems,environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use withthe inventive subject matter include, but are not limited to, personalcomputers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set-top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers,distributed computing environments that include any of the above systemsor devices, and the like.

Aspects of the inventive subject matter may be implemented in thegeneral context of computer-executable instructions, such as programmodules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modulesinclude routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc.that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Aspects of the inventive subject matter may also be practiced indistributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remoteprocessing devices that are linked through a communications network. Ina distributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote computer storage media including memory storagedevices.

An exemplary system for implementing aspects of the inventive subjectmatter includes a general purpose computing device in the form of acomputer 241. Components and/or subsystems or modules of computer 241may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit 259, a systemmemory 222, and a system bus 221 that couples various system componentsincluding the system memory to the processing unit 259. The system bus221 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory busor memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, the PeripheralComponent Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus, as well asits successor, the PCI-Express standard.

Computer 241 typically includes a variety of computer-readable media.Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby computer 241 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media,removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer-readable media may comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatileand nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such ascomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, orother data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM,ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium that can be used to store the desired informationand that can be accessed by computer 241. Communication media typicallyembodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, programmodules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier waveor other transport mechanism and includes any information deliverymedia. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one ormore of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encodeinformation in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,communication media includes wired media such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

The system memory 222 includes computer storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 223and random access memory (RAM) 260. A basic input/output system 224(BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer informationbetween elements within computer 241, such as during start-up, istypically stored in ROM 223. RAM 260 typically contains data and/orprogram modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presentlybeing operated on by processing unit 259. By way of example, and notlimitation, FIG. 1 illustrates operating system 225, applicationprograms 226, other program modules 227, and program data 228.

The computer 241 may also include other removable/non-removable,volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive 238 that reads from or writes tonon-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 239that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk 254,and an optical disk drive 240 that reads from or writes to a removable,nonvolatile optical disk 253 such as a CD ROM or other optical media.Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storagemedia that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include,but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards,digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solidstate ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 238 is typically connectedto the system bus 221 through a non-removable memory interface such asinterface 234, and magnetic disk drive 239 and optical disk drive 240are typically connected to the system bus 221 by a removable memoryinterface, such as interface 235.

The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed aboveand illustrated in FIG. 1, provide storage of computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for thecomputer 241. In FIG. 1, for example, hard disk drive 238 is illustratedas storing operating system 258, application programs 257, other programmodules 256, and program data 255. Note that these components can eitherbe the same as or different from operating system 225, applicationprograms 226, other program modules 227, and program data 228. Operatingsystem 258, application programs 257, other program modules 256, andprogram data 255 are given different numbers here to illustrate that, ata minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands andinformation into the computer 241 through input devices such as akeyboard 251 and pointing device 252, commonly referred to as a mouse,trackball, or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include amicrophone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like.These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit259 through a user input interface 236 that is coupled to the systembus, but they may be connected by other interface and bus structures,such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). Amonitor 242 or other type of display device is also connected to thesystem bus 221 via an interface, such as an insecure or secure videointerface 232. An exemplary secure video standard would be theHigh-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard. In addition to themonitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices suchas speakers 244 and printer 243, which may be connected through anoutput peripheral interface 233.

The computer 241 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer246. The remote computer 246 may be a personal computer, a server, arouter, a network PC, a peer device, or other common network node, andit typically includes many or all of the elements described aboverelative to the computer 241, although only a memory storage device 247has been illustrated in FIG. 1. The logical connections depicted in FIG.1 include a local area network (LAN) 245 and a wide area network (WAN)249, but they may also include other networks. Such networkingenvironments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computernetworks, intranets, and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 241 is connectedto the LAN 245 through a network interface or adapter 237. When used ina WAN networking environment, the computer 241 typically includes amodem 250 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN249, such as the Internet. The modem 250, which may be internal orexternal, may be connected to the system bus 221 via the user inputinterface 236, or other appropriate mechanism. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 241, orportions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. Byway of example, and not limitation, FIG. 1 illustrates remoteapplication programs 248 as residing on memory device 247. It will beappreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers may beused.

It should be understood that the various techniques described herein maybe implemented in connection with hardware or software or, whereappropriate, with a combination of both. Thus, the methods and apparatusof the inventive subject matter, or certain aspects or portions thereof,may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied intangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or anyother machine-readable storage medium wherein, when the program code isloaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machinebecomes an apparatus for practicing the inventive subject matter. In thecase of program code execution on programmable computers, the computingdevice generally includes a processor, a storage medium readable by theprocessor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storageelements), at least one input device, and at least one output device.One or more programs may implement or utilize the processes described inconnection with the inventive subject matter, e.g., through the use ofan API, reusable controls, or the like. Such programs are preferablyimplemented in a high level procedural or object oriented programminglanguage to communicate with a computer system. However, the program(s)can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In anycase, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language, andcombined with hardware implementations.

Although exemplary embodiments may refer to utilizing aspects of theinventive subject matter in the context of one or more stand-alonecomputer systems, the inventive subject matter is not so limited, butrather it may be implemented in connection with any computingenvironment, such as a network or distributed computing environment.Still further, aspects of the inventive subject matter may beimplemented in or across a plurality of processing chips or devices, andstorage may similarly be effected across a plurality of devices. Suchdevices might include personal computers, network servers, handhelddevices, supercomputers, or computers integrated into other systems suchas automobiles and airplanes.

In light of the diverse computing environments that may be builtaccording to the general framework provided in FIG. 1, the systems andmethods provided herein cannot be construed as limited in any way to aparticular computing architecture. Instead, the inventive subject mattershould not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather it should beconstrued in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.

Referring next to FIG. 2, shown is an exemplary networked computingenvironment in which many computerized processes may be implemented toperform the processes described above. For example, parallel computingmay be part of such a networked environment with various clients on thenetwork of FIG. 2 using and/or implementing a life insuranceunderwriting risk calculator. One of ordinary skill in the art canappreciate that networks can connect any computer or other client orserver device, or other devices in a distributed computing environment.In this regard, any computer system or environment having any number ofprocessing, memory, or storage units, and any number of applications andprocesses occurring simultaneously is considered suitable for use inconnection with the systems and methods provided.

Distributed computing provides sharing of computer resources andservices by exchange between computing devices and systems. Theseresources and services include the exchange of information, cachestorage, and disk storage for files. Distributed computing takesadvantage of network connectivity, allowing clients to leverage theircollective power to benefit the entire enterprise. In this regard, avariety of devices may have applications, objects, or resources that mayimplicate the processes described herein.

FIG. 2 provides a schematic diagram of an exemplary networked ordistributed computing environment. The environment comprises computingdevices 271, 272, 276, and 277 as well as objects 273, 274, and 275, anddatabase 278. Each of these entities 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277,and 278 may comprise or make use of programs, methods, data stores,programmable logic, etc. The entities 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277,and 278 may span portions of the same or different devices such as PDAs,audio/video devices, MP3 players, personal computers, etc. Each entity271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, and 278 can communicate with anotherentity 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, and 278 by way of thecommunications network 270. In this regard, any entity may beresponsible for the maintenance and updating of a database 278 or otherstorage element.

This network 270 may itself comprise other computing entities thatprovide services to the system of FIG. 2, and it may itself representmultiple interconnected networks. In accordance with an aspect of theinventive subject matter, each entity 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277,and 278 may contain discrete functional program modules that might makeuse of an API, or other object, software, firmware, and/or hardware, torequest services of one or more of the other entities 271, 272, 273,274, 275, 276, 277, and 278.

It can also be appreciated that an object, such as 275, may be hosted onanother computing device 276. Thus, although the physical environmentdepicted may show the connected devices as computers, such illustrationis merely exemplary, and the physical environment may alternatively bedepicted or described comprising various digital devices such as PDAs,televisions, MP3 players, etc., software objects such as interfaces, COMobjects, and the like.

There are a variety of systems, components, and network configurationsthat support distributed computing environments. For example, computingsystems may be connected together by wired or wireless systems, by localnetworks, or by widely distributed networks. Currently, many networksare coupled to the Internet, which provides an infrastructure for widelydistributed computing and encompasses many different networks. Any suchinfrastructures, whether coupled to the Internet or not, may be used inconjunction with the systems and methods provided.

A network infrastructure may enable a host of network topologies such asclient/server, peer-to-peer, or hybrid architectures. The “client” is amember of a class or group that uses the services of another class orgroup to which it is not related. In computing, a client is a process,i.e., roughly a set of instructions or tasks, that requests a serviceprovided by another program. The client process utilizes the requestedservice without having to “know” any working details about the otherprogram or the service itself. In a client/server architecture,particularly a networked system, a client is usually a computer thataccesses shared network resources provided by another computer, e.g., aserver. In the example of FIG. 2, any entity 271, 272, 273, 274, 275,276, 277, and 278 can be considered a client, a server, or both,depending on the circumstances.

A server is typically, though not necessarily, a remote computer systemaccessible over a remote or local network, such as the Internet. Theclient process may be active in a first computer system, and the serverprocess may be active in a second computer system, communicating withone another over a communications medium, thus providing distributedfunctionality and allowing multiple clients to take advantage of theinformation-gathering capabilities of the server. Any software objectsmay be distributed across multiple computing devices or objects.

Client(s) and server(s) may communicate with one another utilizing thefunctionality provided by protocol layer(s). For example, HyperTextTransfer Protocol (HTTP) is a common protocol that is used inconjunction with the World Wide Web (WWW), or “the Web.” Typically, acomputer network address such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address orother reference such as a Universal Resource Locator (URL) can be usedto identify the server or client computers to each other. The networkaddress can be referred to as a URL address. Communication can beprovided over a communications medium, e.g., client(s) and server(s) maybe coupled to one another via TCP/IP connection(s) for high-capacitycommunication.

In light of the diverse computing environments that may be builtaccording to the general framework provided in FIG. 2 and the furtherdiversification that can occur in computing in a network environmentsuch as that of FIG. 2, the systems and methods provided herein cannotbe construed as limited in any way to a particular computingarchitecture or operating system. Instead, the inventive subject mattershould not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather it should beconstrued in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.

Some embodiments may include a medical diagnosis interpretationcalculator (MDIC), including perhaps an electrocardiographicinterpretation calculator (EIC). The calculator may interpret diagnosesand medical information bureau codes and may assign risk classes. Therisk classes may be used for insurance underwriting, perhaps obviating aneed for review of an application file by a medical director. The MDICmay enable an underwriter to independently and accurately interpret anelectrocardiogram or other diagnostic evidence, to derive a diagnosisand a MIB code, and to assign a correct risk class to an application forinsurance. Improved efficiency, decreased file transfers, decreasedprocessing delays, and increased consistency among underwriters mayresult. Disclosed embodiments may thus decrease insurance processingtime, and may result in better utilization of medical director skillsand knowledge.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electrocardiographic interpretationcalculator EIC 1100 according to various embodiments. The EIC 1100 mayinclude a cardiac risk profile module 1106 to derive a cardiac riskprofile 1107 from a plurality of cardiac risk factors 1108. An ECG riskclass module 1110 may be coupled to the cardiac risk profile module 1106to derive one or more ECG risk classes 1111 from one or more cardiologydiagnoses 1112 weighted by the cardiac risk profile 1107. A resultingoverall ECG risk class 1150 may be used to perform an insuranceunderwriting function.

The cardiac risk profile module 1106 may include a cardiac risk factorinput and display module 1114. The cardiac risk factor input and displaymodule 1114 may accept an input of the plurality of cardiac risk factors1108, a selection of the plurality of cardiac risk factors from adisplayed list of cardiac risk factors, or both. The displayed list ofcardiac risk factors may be retrieved from a risk factor database 1116.

A cardiac risk factor weighting module 1118 may be coupled to thecardiac risk factor input and display module 1114. The cardiac riskfactor weighting module 1118 may assign a weight 1119 to each member ofthe set of cardiac risk factors to obtain a set of cardiac risk factorweights 1120. A raw score derivation module 1122 may be coupled to thecardiac risk factor weighting module 1118. The raw score derivationmodule 1122 may perform a mathematical function on the set of cardiacrisk factor weights 1120 to obtain a cardiac risk factor raw score 1123.

The EIC 1100 may also include a cardiac risk profile derivation module1126 coupled to the raw score derivation module 1122. The cardiac riskprofile derivation module 1126 may derive the cardiac risk profile 1107from the cardiac risk factor raw score 1123. In some embodiments, thecardiac risk profile 1107 may be derived by indexing the cardiac riskprofile 1107 from a look-up table of cardiac risk profiles 1128 usingthe cardiac risk factor raw score 1123 as an index value.

The cardiac risk profile 1107 may also be derived by selecting a cardiacrisk profile associated with a range of cardiac risk factor raw scoreswherein the cardiac risk factor raw score 1123 falls within the range ofcardiac risk factor raw scores. A third way of deriving the cardiac riskprofile 1107 may include performing a mathematical function on thecardiac risk factor raw score 1123. The aforementioned methods ofderiving the cardiac risk profile 1107 may be used singly or in anycombination. Other methods of deriving the cardiac risk profile 1107 maybe possible. A cardiac risk profile display module 1130 may be coupledto the cardiac risk profile derivation module 1126 to display thecardiac risk profile 1107.

The ECG risk class module 1110 may also include a cardiology diagnosisinput and display module 1136. The cardiology diagnosis input anddisplay module 1136 may accept an input of the cardiology diagnos(es)1112, a selection of the cardiology diagnos(es) 1112 from one or moredisplayed list(s) of cardiology diagnoses, or both. The displayedlist(s) of cardiology diagnoses may be retrieved from one or more tablesof ECG risk classes 1138.

A risk class assignment module 1140 may be coupled to the cardiologydiagnosis input and display module 1136. The risk class assignmentmodule 1140 may look up the ECG risk class(es) 1111 from the table(s) ofECG risk classes 1138. A risk class look-up operation may use thecardiac risk profile 1107 and the cardiology diagnos(es) 1112. Thetable(s) of ECG risk classes 1138 may associate the ECG risk class(es)1111, the cardiac risk profile 1107, and the cardiology diagnos(es)1112. An ECG risk class display module 1144 may be coupled to the riskclass assignment module 1140 to display the ECG risk class(es) 1111.

The EIC 1100 may further include an ECG risk class comparison module1148 coupled to the risk class assignment module 1140. The ECG riskclass comparison module 1148 may associate an ECG risk class weight 1149with each of the ECG risk class(es) 1111. The ECG risk class comparisonmodule 1148 may also derive the overall ECG risk class 1150 from the ECGrisk class(es) 1111. The overall ECG risk class 1150 may be derived byselecting an ECG risk class of greatest weight from the ECG riskclass(es) 1111. A greater weight is associated with a higher level ofunderwriting risk.

The overall ECG risk class 1150 may also be derived by performing amathematical function on the ECG risk class weight(s) 1149 to yield anoverall ECG risk class index. The overall ECG risk class index may beused to index the overall ECG risk class from the table(s) of ECG riskclasses 1138. An overall ECG risk class display module 1152 may displaythe overall ECG risk class 1150.

Other information associated with the cardiology diagnos(es) 1112 may bedisplayed. A MIB display module 1156 may be coupled to the table(s) ofECG risk classes 1138. The MIB display module 1156 may extract a MIBcode 1158 associated with the cardiology diagnos(es) 1112 from thetable(s) of ECG risk classes 1138 and may display the MIB code 1158. Atext module 1160 may be coupled to the table(s) of ECG risk classes1138. The text module 1160 may extract a field of explanatory text 1162associated with the cardiology diagnos(es) 1112 from the table(s) of ECGrisk classes 1138. The text module 1160 may also display the field ofexplanatory text 1162.

The EIC 1100 may further include an administrative module 1166 coupledto the cardiac risk profile module 1106 and to the ECG risk class module1110. The administrative module 1166 may be used to populate the riskfactor database 1116 associated with the displayed list of cardiac riskfactors, to modify the look-up table of cardiac risk profiles 1128, andto modify the table(s) of EGG risk classes 1138.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a medical diagnosis interpretationcalculator (MDIC) 1200 according to various embodiments. The MDIC 1200may include a medical risk profile input and display device 1202 toenter a plurality of medical risk factors 1206. A medical risk profilemodule 1210 may be coupled to the medical risk profile input and displaydevice 1202. The medical risk profile module 1210 may operate to derivea medical risk profile 1214 from the plurality of medical risk factors1206. A medical risk profile display field 1216 may display the medicalrisk profile 1214 on the medical risk profile input and display device1202.

The MDIC 1200 may also include a plurality of weight display fields 1240associated with the medical risk profile input and display device 1202.Each weight display field may display a numerical weighting factorassociated with one of the plurality of medical risk factors 1206. Eachone of the plurality of weight display fields 1240 may comprise aread-only field unless the MDIC 1200 is operating in an administrativemode.

A medical risk class input and display device 1220 may becommunicatively coupled to the medical risk profile input and displaydevice 1202 to enter one or more medical diagnoses 1226. A medical riskclass module 1230 may be coupled to the medical risk profile module 1210and to the medical risk class input and display device 1220 to derive anoverall medical risk class 1236 from the medical diagnos(es) 1226weighted by the medical risk profile 1214.

One or more MIB code display fields 1250 may be associated with themedical risk class input and display device 1220. Each MIB code displayfield may be associated with one of the medical diagnos(es) 1226 todisplay the corresponding MIB code. The medical risk class input anddisplay device 1220 may also include one or more explanatory textdisplay fields 1254 to provide a short description of the medicaldiagnos(es) 1226.

The MDIC 1200 may also include one or more medical risk class displayfields 1260 associated with the medical risk class input and displaydevice 1220. Each of the medical risk class display field(s) 1260 may beassociated with one of the medical diagnos(es) 1226. For example, amedical risk class display field 1262 may display a medical risk classderived from a medical diagnosis 1263 weighted by the medical riskprofile 1214.

An overall medical risk class display field 1264 may be associated withthe medical risk class input and display device 1220 to display theoverall medical risk class 1236. The overall medical risk class 1236 maybe derived by selecting a medical risk class (e.g., from the medicalrisk class display field(s) 1260) of highest risk. The overall medicalrisk class 1236 may also be derived by performing a mathematicalfunction on a numerical weight associated with each medical risk class.The mathematical function may yield an overall medical risk class indexto use to index the overall medical risk class from one or more table(s)of medical risk classes 1266.

The MDIC 1200 may also include one or more command devices 1270A and1270B. The command device(s) 1270A and 1270B may be associated with themedical risk profile input and display device 1202 and with the medicalrisk class input and display device 1220, respectively. The commanddevice 1270A may instruct the medical risk profile module 1210 to deriveor to calculate the medical risk profile 1214. The command device 1270Bmay instruct the medical risk class module 1220 to derive or tocalculate a medical risk class (e.g., a medical risk class displayed inthe medical risk class display field 1262) from a medical diagnosis(e.g., from the medical diagnosis 1263). The command device 1270B mayalso instruct the medical risk class module 1220 to derive or tocalculate the overall medical risk class 1236.

One or more entry reset devices 1274A and 1274B may operate to clearentries associated with the plurality of medical risk factors 1206 andwith the medical diagnos(es) 1226, respectively. An administrator device1280 may be associated with the medical risk profile input and displaydevice, the medical risk class input and display device, or both. Theadministrator device 1280 may be used to perform a database maintenancefunction associated with the MDIC 1200. Embodiments of the medical riskprofile input and display device 1202 and the medical risk class inputand display device 1220 may include sets of switches, an electronicdisplay, a computer screen, sets of drop-down menus, sets of fields tobe filled in, sets of radio buttons, sets of check boxes, and/or a voicerecognition system, among other input/output devices.

FIG. 5 comprises a block diagram of a system 1300 according to variousembodiments. The system 1300 may include one or more of the EIC 1100and/or the MDIC 1200, as previously described. The system 1300 may alsoinclude an electrocardiograph device 1306 to produce an EKG 1310. An EKGanalysis module 1314 may be coupled to the electrocardiograph device1306 to receive the EKG 1310 from the electrocardiograph device 1306.The EKG analysis module 1314 may derive one or more cardiologydiagnos(es) 1318 from the EKG 1310. The cardiology diagnos(es) 1318 maycomprise a set of characteristics associated with an EKG waveform.

An ECG interpretation calculator 1322 may be coupled to the EKG analysismodule 1314 to receive the cardiology diagnos(es) 1318. The ECGinterpretation calculator 1322 may derive an ECG risk class 1330responsive to a receipt of the cardiology diagnos(es) 1318.

The system 1300 may also include a cardiac risk profile module 1334associated with the ECG interpretation calculator 1322. The cardiac riskprofile module 1334 may receive a set of cardiac risk factors 1338associated with an applicant for insurance. A service representativeassociated with an insurance company may input the set of cardiac riskfactors 1338, for example. The cardiac risk profile module 1334 mayderive a cardiac risk profile 1342 from the set of cardiac risk factors1338. A numerical weight associated with each one of the set of cardiacrisk factors 1338 may be adjusted by editing a risk factor database 1346used to derive the cardiac risk profile 1342.

An ECG risk class module 1350 may be coupled to the cardiac risk profilemodule 1334 to derive the ECG risk class 1330 from the cardiologydiagnos(es) 1318 and from the cardiac risk profile 1342. The ECG riskclass 1330 may thus comprise the cardiology diagnos(es) 1318 weighted bythe cardiac risk profile 1342. A table of ECG risk classes 1354 may becoupled to the ECG risk class module 1350 to associate the ECG riskclass 1330, the cardiology diagnos(es) 1318, and the cardiac riskprofile 1342.

The system 1300 may also include an insurance underwriting module 1358coupled to the ECG interpretation calculator 1322. The insuranceunderwriting module 1358 may receive the ECG risk class 1330 from theECG interpretation calculator 1322 and may cause an insuranceunderwriting function to be performed using the ECG risk class 1330. Anunderwriting database 1362 may be coupled to the underwriting module1358 to store historical relationships among insurance risk classes(e.g., the ECG risk class 1330), insurance premiums, and losses payable.

A cardiac underwriting feedback module 1368 may be coupled to the tableof ECG risk classes 1354 and to the risk factor database 1346. Thecardiac underwriting feedback module 1368 may adjust one or more entriesin the table of ECG risk classes 1354 and/or in the risk factor database1346. The entries may be adjusted such that a cumulative premium amountoutput 1372 of the insurance underwriting system summed over a firstselectable period of time divided by a cumulative loss payment amountinput 1376 to the underwriting database summed over a second selectableperiod of time approaches a target value. Other financial ratioobjectives may be targeted using disclosed embodiments.

Any of the components previously described can be implemented in anumber of ways, including embodiments in software. Thus, the EIC 1100;cardiac risk profile module 1106; cardiac risk profile 1107; cardiacrisk factors 1108; ECG risk class module 1110; ECG risk class(es) 1111;cardiology diagnos(es) 1112; cardiac risk factor input and displaymodule 1114; risk factor database 1116; cardiac risk factor weightingmodule 1118; cardiac risk factor weights 1119, 1120; raw scorederivation module 1122; cardiac risk factor raw score 1123; cardiac riskprofile derivation module 1126; look-up table of cardiac risk profiles1128; cardiac risk profile display module 1130; cardiology diagnosisinput and display module 1136; table(s) of ECG risk classes 1138; riskclass assignment module 1140; ECG risk class display module 1144; ECGrisk class comparison module 1148; ECG risk class weight 1149; overallECG risk class 1150; overall ECG risk class display module 1152; MIBdisplay module 1156; MIB code 1158; text module 1160; field ofexplanatory text 1162; administrative module 1166; MDIC 1200; medicalrisk profile input and display device 1202; medical risk factor(s) 1206;medical risk profile module 1210; medical risk profile 1214; medicalrisk profile display field 1216; medical risk class input and displaydevice 1220; weight display fields 1240; medical diagnoses 1226, 1263;medical risk class module 1230; overall medical risk class 1236; MIBcode display field(s) 1250; explanatory text display field(s) 1254;medical risk class display field(s) 1260, 1262; overall medical riskclass display field 1264; table(s) of medical risk classes 1266; commanddevice(s) 1270A, 1270B; entry reset device(s) 1274A, 1274B;administrator device 1280; system 1300; electrocardiograph device 1306;electrocardiogram (EKG) 1310; EKG analysis module 1314; cardiologydiagnos(es) 1318; ECG interpretation calculator 1322; ECG risk class1330; cardiac risk profile module 1334; cardiac risk factors 1338;cardiac risk profile 1342; risk factor database 1346; ECG risk classmodule 1350; table of ECG risk classes 1354; insurance underwritingmodule 1358; underwriting database 1362; cardiac underwriting feedbackmodule 1368; premium amounts output 1372; and loss payment amounts input1376 may all be characterized as “modules” herein.

The modules may include hardware circuitry, single or multi-processorcircuits, memory circuits, software program modules and objects,firmware, and combinations thereof, as desired by the architect of theEIC 1100, the MDIC 1200, and the system 1300 and as appropriate forparticular implementations of various embodiments.

The apparatus and systems of various embodiments can be used inapplications other than deriving a risk class associated with anapplication for insurance using a medical interpretation calculator tointerpret an electrocardiogram or other diagnostic evidence. Thus,various embodiments are not to be so limited. The illustrations of theEIC 1100, the MDIC 1200, and the system 1300 are intended to provide ageneral understanding of the structure of various embodiments. They arenot intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements andfeatures of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structuresdescribed herein.

Some embodiments may include a number of methods.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating several methods according tovarious embodiments. Some embodiments may use an ECG interpretationcalculator (EIC) to derive an ECG risk class from one or more cardiologydiagnoses, as previously described. Referring back to FIG. 3, forexample, the EIC 1100 may be used to derive the ECG risk class. Eachdiagnosis may be weighted by a plurality of cardiac risk factors. Theplurality of cardiac risk factors may comprise a cardiac risk profile.

Embodiments disclosed herein may include tables and databases associatedwith the EIC 1100. A method 1400 may begin at block 1405 with performingany required database administration functions associated with thetables and databases using an administrative module associated with theEIC 1100. The database administration functions may include populating arisk factor database associated with a displayed list of cardiac riskfactors. Other database administration functions may include modifyingone or more tables of ECG risk classes and/or a look-up table of cardiacrisk profiles.

The method 1400 may continue with accepting an input of a plurality ofcardiac risk factors, at block 1409. In some embodiments, the inputoperation may comprise selecting the plurality of cardiac risk factorsfrom a list of cardiac risk factors displayed at the EIC 1100. Thedisplayed list of cardiac risk factors may be read from a risk factordatabase. A weight may be assigned to each member of the set of cardiacrisk factors to obtain a set of cardiac risk factor weights, at block1413. A mathematical function may be performed on the set of cardiacrisk factor weights to derive a cardiac risk factor raw score, at block1417.

The method 1400 may further include deriving a cardiac risk profile fromthe cardiac risk factor raw score, at block 1421. In some embodiments,the cardiac risk profile may be indexed from a look-up table of cardiacrisk profiles using the cardiac risk factor raw score as an index value.The cardiac risk profile may also be selected as being associated with aparticular range of cardiac risk factor raw scores. That is, the cardiacrisk factor raw score may fall within the particular range of cardiacrisk factor raw scores. The cardiac risk profile may also be derived byperforming a mathematical function on the cardiac risk factor raw score.The cardiac risk profile may be displayed, at block 1425.

The method 1400 may also include accepting a cardiology diagnosis input,at block 1429. The cardiology diagnosis may be input directly, or may beselected from one or more displayed lists of cardiology diagnoses at theEIC 1100. The displayed list(s) of cardiology diagnoses may be read fromone or more tables of ECG risk classes.

The method 1400 may continue at block 1433 with extracting a MIB codeassociated with the cardiology diagnosis from the table(s) of ECG riskclasses. The MIB code may be displayed, at block 1437. A field ofexplanatory text associated with the cardiology diagnosis may beextracted from the table(s) of ECG risk classes, at block 1441. Thefield of explanatory text may be displayed, at block 1445.

The method 1400 may also include looking up an ECG risk class, at block1449. The ECG risk class may be extracted from the table(s) of ECG riskclasses, using perhaps the cardiac risk profile and the at least onecardiology diagnosis. Thus, the table(s) of ECG risk classes mayassociate the ECG risk class, the cardiac risk profile, and thecardiology diagnosis. The method 1400 may also include displaying theECG risk class, at block 1453. The method 1400 may further includeassociating an ECG risk class weight with the ECG risk class, at block1457. Activities associated with blocks 1429 through 1457 may berepeated to accept two or more cardiology diagnoses, to displayinformation related to the cardiology diagnoses, and to look up an ECGrisk class and weight assigned to each cardiology diagnosis. The method1400 may include a decision block 1461 to enable an input and processingof multiple cardiology diagnoses.

The method 1400 may continue at block 1465 with deriving an overall ECGrisk class from the ECG risk class(es). The overall ECG risk class maybe selected to be equal to the ECG risk class of greatest weight,wherein the greatest weight corresponds to an ECG risk class of highestrisk. The overall ECG risk class may also be derived by performing amathematical function on the ECG risk class weight associated with eachECG risk class to yield an overall ECG risk class index. The overall ECGrisk class index may then be used to index the overall ECG risk classfrom the table(s) of ECG risk classes. The method 1400 may conclude atblock 1469 with displaying the overall ECG risk class. Other methods maybe possible.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating several methods according tovarious embodiments. A method 1500 may begin at block 1505 withperforming any required database maintenance function associated with amedical diagnosis interpretation calculator (MDIC) using anadministrator device. The method 1500 may continue at block 1509 withentering a plurality of medical risk factors into the MDIC using amedical risk profile input and display device. A medical risk profilemodule may be commanded to derive the medical risk profile, at block1513.

The method 1500 may also include displaying a numerical weighting factorassociated with each one of the plurality of medical risk factors, atblock 1517. The numerical weighting factors may be displayed using aplurality of weight display fields associated with the medical riskprofile input and display device. Each weight display field may comprisea read-only field unless the MDIC is operating in an administrativemode.

The method 1500 may further include deriving a medical risk profile fromthe plurality of medical risk factors, at block 1521. The medical riskprofile may be derived using a medical risk profile module coupled tothe medical risk profile input and display device. The medical riskprofile may be displayed using a medical risk profile display fieldassociated with the medical risk profile input and display device, atblock 1525.

The method 1500 may continue at block 1529 with entering a medicaldiagnosis using a medical risk class input and display devicecommunicatively coupled to the medical risk profile input and displaydevice. A MIB code associated with the at least one medical diagnosismay be displayed using a MIB code display field associated with themedical risk class input and display device, at block 1537. A shortdescription of the medical diagnosis may be provided, at block 1541. Theshort description may be displayed using an explanatory text displayfield associated with the medical risk class input and display device.

The method 1500 may also include displaying a medical risk class derivedfrom the medical diagnosis weighted by the medical risk profile, atblock 1545. The medical risk class may be displayed using a medical riskclass display field associated with the medical risk class input anddisplay device. In some embodiments, more than one medical diagnosis maybe entered into the MDIC, using the activities of blocks 1529 through1547. In the case of multiple medical diagnoses, multiple medical riskclass display fields may be associated one for one with the medicaldiagnoses.

The method 1500 may continue at block 1548 with commanding the medicalrisk class module to derive the medical risk class and/or the overallmedical risk class. A command device associated with the medical riskclass input and display device may be used for this purpose. An overallmedical risk class may be derived from the medical diagnos(es) weightedby the medical risk profile, at block 1549. A medical risk class modulemay be coupled to the medical risk profile module and to the medicalrisk class input and display device to accomplish this purpose.

The overall medical risk class may be derived by selecting a medicalrisk class of highest risk. The overall medical risk class may also bederived by performing a mathematical function on a numerical weightassociated with each medical risk class to yield an overall medical riskclass index, as previously described. The resulting overall medical riskclass index may be used to index the overall medical risk class from oneor more tables of medical risk classes.

The overall medical risk class may be displayed using an overall medicalrisk class display field associated with the medical risk class inputand display device, at block 1553. The method 1500 may conclude withresetting entries associated with the plurality of medical risk factorsand with the medical diagnos(es) using an entry reset device, at block1557.

It is noted that the medical risk profile input and display device, themedical risk class input and display device, or both may comprise a setof switches, an electronic display, a computer screen, a set ofdrop-down menus, a set of fields to be filled in, a set of radiobuttons, a set of check boxes, and/or a voice recognition system, in anycombination. Additional methods may be possible.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating several methods according tovarious embodiments. A method 1600 may begin at block 1605 withproducing an EKG using an electrocardiograph device. Theelectrocardiograph device may be capable of producing a digitalrepresentation of the EKG. The method 1600 may continue at block 1609with receiving the EKG at an EKG analysis module coupled to theelectrocardiograph device and deriving one or more cardiology diagnosesfrom the EKG. The cardiology diagnos(es) may comprise a set ofcharacteristics associated with an EKG waveform.

The method 1600 may also include receiving the cardiology diagnos(es) atan EIC coupled to the EKG analysis module, at block 1613. The method1600 may continue at block 1617 with receiving a set of cardiac riskfactors associated with an applicant for insurance. The set of cardiacrisk factors may be received at a cardiac risk profile module within theECG interpretation calculator. A cardiac risk profile may be derivedfrom the set of cardiac risk factors, at block 1621. A numerical weightassociated with each one of the set of cardiac risk factors may beadjustable by editing a risk factor database used to derive the cardiacrisk profile.

The method 1600 may further include deriving an ECG risk classresponsive to the receipt of the cardiology diagnos(es), at block 1625.The ECG risk class may comprise the cardiology diagnos(es) weighted bythe cardiac risk profile. The ECG risk class may be derived from thecardiology diagnos(es) and from the cardiac risk profile using an ECGrisk class module coupled to the cardiac risk profile module. The method1600 may also include associating the ECG risk class, the at least onecardiology diagnosis, and the cardiac risk profile, at block 1637. Atable of ECG risk classes coupled to an ECG risk class module may beused in the association operation.

The method 1600 may also include receiving the ECG risk class at aninsurance underwriting module coupled to the ECG interpretationcalculator, at block 1648. The method 1600 may cause an insuranceunderwriting function to be performed using the ECG risk class, at block1652.

In some embodiments, the method 1600 may include storing historicalrelationships between insurance risk classes, insurance premiums, and/orlosses payable using an underwriting database coupled to theunderwriting module, at block 1656. An iteration of the method 1600 mayconclude at block 1660 with adjusting one or more entries in the tableof ECG risk classes and/or in the risk factor database. The entries maybe adjusted using a cardiac underwriting feedback module coupled to thetable of ECG risk classes and to the risk factor database. The tablesmay be adjusted to drive one or more financial ratios to desired goals.For example, the tables may be adjusted such that a cumulative amount ofpremiums calculated by the insurance underwriting module summed over afirst selectable period of time divided by a cumulative amount of lossespayable associated with the cumulative amount of premiums approaches atarget value.

It may be possible to execute the activities described herein in anorder other than the order described. And, various activities describedwith respect to the methods identified herein can be executed inrepetitive, serial, or parallel fashion.

A software program may be launched from a computer-readable medium in acomputer-based system to execute functions defined in the softwareprogram. Various programming languages may be employed to createsoftware programs designed to implement and perform the methodsdisclosed herein. The programs may be structured in an object-orientatedformat using an object-oriented language such as Java or C++.Alternatively, the programs may be structured in a procedure-orientatedformat using a procedural language, such as assembly or C. The softwarecomponents may communicate using a number of mechanisms well known tothose skilled in the art, such as application program interfaces orinter-process communication techniques, including remote procedurecalls. The teachings of various embodiments are not limited to anyparticular programming language or environment. Thus, other embodimentsmay be realized, as discussed regarding FIG. 13 further below.

Life Insurance Underwriting Risk Calculator

Some embodiments may include a Life Insurance Underwriting RiskCalculator. The Life Insurance Underwriting Risk Calculator is a toolthat may be used for insurance underwriting, perhaps obviating a needfor review and/or reconsideration of an application file by a medicaldirector. The Life Insurance Underwriting Risk Calculator may comprise aplurality of subsystems or modules, each of which in itself may comprisea calculator for a particular category of medical diagnoses.

Using the Life Insurance Underwriting Risk Calculator, an underwritermay independently determine whether an applicant could be granted a morepreferential risk class, and if so, what further action(s) the applicantwould have to satisfy to reach that risk class. In some embodiments, amedical director is involved in rate class determination to asubstantially less degree than without the underwriters' utilization ofthis tool.

Improved efficiency, decreased file transfers, decreased processingdelays, and increased consistency among underwriters may result.Disclosed embodiments may thus decrease insurance processing time, andmay result in better utilization of medical director skills andknowledge.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a graphical user interface of anexample system comprising a Life Insurance Underwriting Risk Calculator300. Shown is one main graphical interface having controls to start anECG Reconsideration Risk Calculator 301, a Low Body Mass Index (BMI)Risk Calculator 303, a Low Cholesterol Risk Class Calculator 305, aHepatitis Marker Risk Analyzer 307, a Cardiac Dysfunction TestingAnalyzer 309, and an exit button 311.

The ECG Reconsideration Risk Calculator 301, Low Body Mass Index (BMI)Risk Calculator 303, Low Cholesterol Risk Class Calculator 305,Hepatitis Marker Risk Analyzer 307, and Cardiac Dysfunction TestingAnalyzer 309 may form part of a more comprehensive automated insuranceunderwriting system that calculates risk (e.g. risk category) associatedwith issuance of a life insurance policy to an individual. In anembodiment, the system may comprise at least one subsystem that acceptsrisk criteria values to be entered, at least one subsystem that assignsat least one pre-determined risk category based upon the criteriavalues, and at least one subsystem that displays the at least onepredetermined risk category. Other embodiments, comprising a pluralityof subsystems and/or modules, are within the scope of the inventivesubject matter.

FIGS. 10A and 10B together constitute a graphical user interface of anexample Electrocardiogram (ECG) Reconsideration Risk Calculator 401portion of an example system comprising a Life Insurance UnderwritingRisk Calculator. FIGS. 10A-10B will be discussed in connection withFIGS. 11A-11F.

FIGS. 11A-11F together constitute an example table calculator as part ofan embodiment of an Electrocardiogram (ECG) Reconsideration RiskCalculator 401. This table provides “behind the scenes” determination ofa best possible rate class for each of a number of characteristics thatmay apply to an applicant seeking life insurance coverage. The table ismerely one possible implementation of a reconsideration risk calculator.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A-10B, the Electrocardiogram (ECG)Reconsideration Risk Calculator 401 allows life insurance underwritersand sales case analysts a “self-service tool” to process the riskassociated with a variety of ECG impairments by entering severaladditional cardiovascular tests 402, which, if submitted, may allowimprovement in risk classification. The calculator 401 then determinesthe best risk classification 405 based on additional information withoutthe need of sending the application to the medical director.

In FIGS. 10A-10B, along the left-hand side are shown a plurality ofpotential characteristics 402 that may or may not be abnormal for anapplicant's ECG. The next column 403 shows a corresponding MedicalInformation Bureau (MIB) code for each characteristic 402. Anunderwriter may readily translate a MIB received in a communication fromthe medical director into the corresponding characteristic in 402, usinga corresponding pull-down menu, if the underwriter doesn't know the MIB.The third column 404 depicts what is needed for a reconsideration to begiven. The fourth column 405 displays to the underwriter the bestpotential rate class they could offer the applicant if a “normal” testresult were produced by the designated test(s) 404 needed forreconsideration.

For example, still with reference to FIG. 10A, and consideringcharacteristic #1, Mechanical Pacemaker, if the applicant was under 40and could provide “normal” test results for an Echocardiogram (ECHO) andan Exercise Treadmill Test (ETT), his or her best potential rate classwould be “Table B”. Thus, if an applicant has an artificial pacemaker,then what's needed for reconsideration of the applicant's rate classdepends upon the applicant's age group and whether “normal” results canbe obtained for ECHO and ETT tests. If the applicant, for example, isage 50 and can produce normal test results for both ECHO and ETT, thenthe applicant's rate class would be PREF.

As a brief aside, life insurance underwriters may assign risk classes toapplicants in any suitable way. One way is to assign various “tables”,each representing a different degree of mortality. For example, “TableA” may represent an increase of 25% mortality (probability of deathrelative to average statistical death rates); “Table B” may represent50% increased mortality; “Table C” may represent 75% increasedmortality; and “Table D” may represent 100% increased mortality. InFIGS. 11A-11B, the expression “1 Table Reduced” means the assigned riskis the next lower table, e.g. Table B instead of Table C. The expression“2 Tables Reduced’ means the assigned risk is two tables lower, e.g.Table B instead of Table D. The expression “PREF” may represent anaverage mortality. The expression “PUL”, as used by some underwriters,may represent Preferred Ultra Level, the best assigned risk level.

Returning to FIG. 10A, “Dysrhythmias” means an irregular heartbeat ofsome sort. “Premature contractions” is a particular kind of irregularheartbeat, and the subcategories under this heading are dependent uponthe number and frequency of them and the types. For example, using thepulldown menu of the user interface depicted in FIG. 10A, theunderwriter may select the particular “Premature Contractions”characteristic 402 for a given applicant, and the resulting tests 404needed for reconsideration and the best potential rate class 405 aredisplayed, as calculated by the table calculator shown in FIG. 11A underthe heading “Premature Contractions”. If the applicant had between 3 and8 premature atrial contractions (PACs) during an ECG, then nothingfurther would be required for reconsideration, and the applicant wouldget PUL risk level. However, if the applicant had between 3 and 20premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) during an ECG, then normalresults with either ECHO or ETT would provide “1 Table Reduced”, andnormal results from both ECHO and ETT would provide “PUL”.

Other major types of characteristics depicted in FIGS. 10A-10B (and inthe corresponding table calculator of FIGS. 11A-11F) may include Rate,Atrial Fibrillation And/Or Flutter, Atrio-Ventricular (AV) Block,Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW), Q-Waves Abnormal, Voltage Abnormal,Axis Deviation Abnormal, ST Segment Depression And/Or T-Waves Abnormal,Bundle Branch Block, and Complex Cardiac Tests. The latter may include,as illustrated in FIG. 11F, for example, Exercise Treadmill Test (ETT),Nuclear Imaged Scan (Cardiolyte ETT or Thallium ETT), and Echo ETT, andEchocardiogram, a Holter monitor test, and/or an Electron Beam CAT Scan(EBCT) of the heart. The list of characteristics may comprise more,fewer, and/or different ones than those depicted in FIGS. 10A-10B and11A-11B.

The table calculator shown in FIGS. 11A-11F provides one possible set ofrules about what different tests are required for reconsideration ofrate class for a large list of possible medical characteristics that apotential applicant could have. These rules may be determined, forexample, by a medical director, based upon his or her experience,knowledge, research, and other factors. The rules represent a knowledgebase of the medical director or other source of medical underwritingknowledge, such as an underwriting manual.

The ECG Reconsideration Risk Calculator 401 automates a process forre-determining risk of life insurance applicants by quickly identifyingadditional tests that are needed, and identifying the corresponding bestpotential rate class that could be offered if the test results are“normal”.

If the applicant proceeds to get the additional test(s) and furnishesproof of “normal” results to the underwriter, then the underwriter canoffer the applicant life insurance at the corresponding rate class.

The ECG Reconsideration Risk Calculator 401 reduces the demand on thetime of life insurance companies' medical directors and improvesprocessing time. It also provides customers with consistent informationand guidance to allow them to submit additional information that mayimprove their rate classification. It also may reduce declination bycustomers of initially rated policies. An as example, these riskclassifications may be calculated based on the particular informationprovided (e.g., ECG impairments and several additional cardiovasculartests 403) according to the table calculator shown in FIGS. 11A-11F.

The underwriter may select a “Reset All Controls” icon or device 450 toreset all of the information in FIGS. 10A-10B, and the underwriter mayselect a “Back to Main” icon or device 460 to return to the main screen(FIG. 9) of the Life Insurance Underwriting Risk Calculator 300.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a process of an example LifeInsurance Underwriting Risk Calculator. The risk criteria, test results,and information from life insurance application 1001 are entered intothe risk calculator 1003. The risk calculator 1003 then references therisk category tables 1007 that have which risk category to assign basedupon the values and combinations of the risk criteria 1001 entered. Thecalculator 1001 then outputs and displays the assigned risk category1005 based upon the values and combinations of the risk criteria 1001entered.

The various systems, methods, and techniques described herein may beimplemented with hardware or software or, where appropriate, with acombination of both. Thus, the methods and apparatus of the presentinventive subject matter, or certain aspects or portions thereof, maytake the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangiblemedia, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any othermachine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code isloaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machinebecomes an apparatus for practicing the inventive subject matter. In thecase of program code execution on programmable computers, the computerwill generally include a processor, a storage medium readable by theprocessor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storageelements), at least one input device, and at least one output device.One or more programs are preferably implemented in a high levelprocedural or object oriented programming language to communicate with acomputer system. However, the program(s) can be implemented in assemblyor machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be acompiled or interpreted language, and combined with hardwareimplementations.

The methods and apparatus of the present inventive subject matter mayalso be embodied in the form of program code that is transmitted oversome transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling,through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein,when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by amachine, such as an EPROM, a gate array, a programmable logic device(PLD), a client computer, a video recorder or the like, the machinebecomes an apparatus for practicing the inventive subject matter. Whenimplemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combineswith the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates toperform the functionality of the systems and methods described herein.

While the present inventive subject matter has been described inconnection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it isto be understood that other similar embodiments may be used, ormodifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment forperforming the same function of the present inventive subject matterwithout deviating there from. Furthermore, it should be emphasized thata variety of computer platforms, including handheld device operatingsystems and other application-specific hardware/software interfacesystems, are herein contemplated, especially as the number of wirelessnetworked devices continues to proliferate. Therefore, the presentinventive subject matter should not be limited to any single embodiment,but rather it should be construed in breadth and scope in accordancewith the appended claims.

Finally, the disclosed embodiments described herein may be adapted foruse in other processor architectures, computer-based systems, or systemvirtualizations, and such embodiments are expressly anticipated by thedisclosures made herein and, thus, the present inventive subject mattershould not be limited to specific embodiments described herein butinstead construed most broadly.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an article 1785 according to variousembodiments. Such embodiments may comprise a computer, a memory system,a magnetic or optical disk, some other storage device, or any type ofelectronic device or system. The article 1785 may include one or moreprocessor(s) 1787 coupled to a machine-accessible medium such as amemory 1789 (e.g., a memory including electrical, optical, orelectromagnetic elements). The medium may contain associated information1791 (e.g., computer program instructions, data, or both), which, whenaccessed, results in a machine (e.g., the processor(s) 1787) performingthe activities previously described herein.

Implementing the apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein mayenable an underwriter to independently and accurately interpret anelectrocardiogram and/or other diagnostic evidence, to derive adiagnosis and a MIB code, and to assign a correct risk class to anapplication for insurance. In some embodiments, the apparatus, systems,and methods disclosed herein may enable an underwriter to independentlydetermine whether an applicant could be granted a more preferential riskclass, and if so, what further action(s) the applicant would have tosatisfy to reach that risk class. Improved efficiency, decreased filetransfers, decreased processing delays, increased consistency amongunderwriters, and increased customer satisfaction may result.

The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof show, by way ofillustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which thesubject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may beutilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logicalsubstitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to betaken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments isdefined only by the appended claims, along with the full range ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein individually or collectively by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any single invention or inventive concept, if more thanone is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have beenillustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achievethe same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown.This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted to require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventivesubject matter may be found in less than all features of a singledisclosed embodiment. Thus the claims are hereby incorporated into theDetailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A cardiac risk reconsiderationprocessor-implemented method, comprising: obtaining an insuranceapplication and an electrocardiogram for an applicant; extractingapplicant cardiovascular characteristics based on the insuranceapplication and the electrocardiogram; determining via a processor aninitial cardiac risk classification for the applicant based on theapplicant cardiovascular characteristics; identifying a cardiovasculartest for the applicant to undergo to improve on the initial cardiac riskclassification as well as a best potential cardiac risk classification,based on the extracted applicant cardiovascular characteristics; andproviding a notification of the cardiovascular test and the bestpotential cardiac risk classification for the applicant.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a test result for theidentified cardiovascular test for the applicant; determining that theinitial cardiac risk classification should be modified to the bestpotential cardiac risk classification based on the test result;generating an insurance policy for the applicant based on the bestpotential cardiac risk classification; and providing the generatedinsurance policy for the applicant.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: obtaining a test result for the identified cardiovasculartest for the applicant; and determining that the initial cardiac riskclassification should not be modified to the best potential cardiac riskclassification based on the test result.
 4. The method of claim 3,further comprising: generating an insurance policy for the applicantbased on the initial cardiac risk classification; and providing thegenerated insurance policy for the applicant.
 5. The method of claim 3,further comprising: identifying, upon determining that the initialcardiac risk classification should not be modified to the best potentialcardiac risk classification, another cardiovascular test for theapplicant to undergo to improve on the initial cardiac riskclassification, based on the obtained test result; and providing anotification of the another cardiovascular test for the applicant. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the identified cardiovascular test is oneof: an echocardiogram; nuclear imaged scan; exercise treadmill; echoexercise treadmill; Holter monitor; and electron beam CAT scan tests. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein the applicant cardiovascularcharacteristics includes at least one of: premature contraction; rate;atrial fibrillation; atrio-ventricular; WPW syndrome; Q-wave; voltage;axis deviation; ST segment depression; and bundle branchcharacteristics.
 8. A cardiac risk reconsideration system, comprising: aprocessor; and a memory disposed in communication with the processor andstoring processor-executable instructions to: obtain an insuranceapplication and an electrocardiogram for an applicant; extract applicantcardiovascular characteristics based on the insurance application andthe electrocardiogram; determine an initial cardiac risk classificationfor the applicant based on the applicant cardiovascular characteristics;identify a cardiovascular test for the applicant to undergo to improveon the initial cardiac risk classification as well as a best potentialcardiac risk classification, based on the extracted applicantcardiovascular characteristics; and provide a notification of thecardiovascular test and the best potential cardiac risk classificationfor the applicant.
 9. The system of claim 8, the memory further storinginstructions to: obtaining a test result for the identifiedcardiovascular test for the applicant; determining that the initialcardiac risk classification should be modified to the best potentialcardiac risk classification based on the test result; generating aninsurance policy for the applicant based on the best potential cardiacrisk classification; and providing the generated insurance policy forthe applicant.
 10. The system of claim 8, the memory further storinginstructions to: obtaining a test result for the identifiedcardiovascular test for the applicant; and determining that the initialcardiac risk classification should not be modified to the best potentialcardiac risk classification based on the test result.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, the memory further storing instructions to: generating aninsurance policy for the applicant based on the initial cardiac riskclassification; and providing the generated insurance policy for theapplicant.
 12. The system of claim 10, the memory further storinginstructions to: identifying, upon determining that the initial cardiacrisk classification should not be modified to the best potential cardiacrisk classification, another cardiovascular test for the applicant toundergo to improve on the initial cardiac risk classification, based onthe obtained test result; and providing a notification of the anothercardiovascular test for the applicant.
 13. The system of claim 8,wherein the identified cardiovascular test is one of: an echocardiogram;nuclear imaged scan; exercise treadmill; echo exercise treadmill; Holtermonitor; and electron beam CAT scan tests.
 14. The system of claim 8,wherein the applicant cardiovascular characteristics includes at leastone of: premature contraction; rate; atrial fibrillation;atrio-ventricular; WPW syndrome; Q-wave; voltage; axis deviation; STsegment depression; and bundle branch characteristics.
 15. Aprocessor-readable tangible medium storing processor-executable cardiacrisk reconsideration instructions to: obtain an insurance applicationand an electrocardiogram for an applicant; extract applicantcardiovascular characteristics based on the insurance application andthe electrocardiogram; determine an initial cardiac risk classificationfor the applicant based on the applicant cardiovascular characteristics;identify a cardiovascular test for the applicant to undergo to improveon the initial cardiac risk classification as well as a best potentialcardiac risk classification, based on the extracted applicantcardiovascular characteristics; and provide a notification of thecardiovascular test and the best potential cardiac risk classificationfor the applicant.
 16. The medium of claim 15, further storinginstructions to: obtaining a test result for the identifiedcardiovascular test for the applicant; determining that the initialcardiac risk classification should be modified to the best potentialcardiac risk classification based on the test result; generating aninsurance policy for the applicant based on the best potential cardiacrisk classification; and providing the generated insurance policy forthe applicant.
 17. The medium of claim 15, further storing instructionsto: obtaining a test result for the identified cardiovascular test forthe applicant; and determining that the initial cardiac riskclassification should not be modified to the best potential cardiac riskclassification based on the test result.
 18. The medium of claim 17,further storing instructions to: generating an insurance policy for theapplicant based on the initial cardiac risk classification; andproviding the generated insurance policy for the applicant.
 19. Themedium of claim 17, further storing instructions to: identifying, upondetermining that the initial cardiac risk classification should not bemodified to the best potential cardiac risk classification, anothercardiovascular test for the applicant to undergo to improve on theinitial cardiac risk classification, based on the obtained test result;and providing a notification of the another cardiovascular test for theapplicant.
 20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the identifiedcardiovascular test is one of: an echocardiogram; nuclear imaged scan;exercise treadmill; echo exercise treadmill; Holter monitor; andelectron beam CAT scan tests.
 21. The medium of claim 15, wherein theapplicant cardiovascular characteristics includes at least one of:premature contraction; rate; atrial fibrillation; atrio-ventricular; WPWsyndrome; Q-wave; voltage; axis deviation; ST segment depression; andbundle branch characteristics.